Major John Fenwick

John Fenwick (1618 – 1683) was the leader of a group of Quakers that emigrated in 1675 from England to Salem, New Jersey where they established Fenwick's Colony, the first English settlement in West Jersey.

from: John Fenwick (1618 – 1683) was the leader of a group of Quakers that emigrated in 1675 from England to Salem, New Jersey where they established Fenwick's Colony, the first English settlement in West Jersey.[

• Source citations used in the creation of FamilySearch profile: KZ98-7P6

John Fennicke in entry for John Fennicke, "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975"

• Citation: "England Births and Christenings, 1538-1975," database, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/NPKG-X81 : accessed 19 October 2015), John Fennicke in entry for John Fennicke, 30 Jun 1643; citing ST MARY ABBOTS,KENSINGTON,LONDON,ENGLAND, reference ; FHL microfilm 845,231.
• Notes This extracted record was used to create this person in Family Tree.

Legacy NFS Source: John Fenwick -

Profile notes:

Major Fenwick, a friend of William Penn, came to America with his colonists in 1675 in the ship Griffin, and established the Fenwick Colony. Modified 20 May 2015 by Ralph Ernest Hollingshead

MEMBER NJ ASSEMBLY. Modified 30 July 2014 by eweatherby2704394

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The following biography narrative for John Fenwick, Quaker, was taken from: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved...

John Fenwick (Quaker) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

• John Fenwick
• Born 1618 Stanton Manor, Northumberland, England
• Died 1683 Fenwick's Colony, Salem County, New Jersey
• Occupation: Soldier
• Attorney
• Spouse(s) Elizabeth Covert Mary Burdet
• Children of John and Elizabeth Anne Priscilla
• Parent(s) Sir William Fenwick, Elizabeth

John Fenwick (1618 – 1683) was the leader of a group of Quakers who emigrated in 1675 from England to Salem, New Jersey where they established Fenwick's Colony, the first English settlement in West Jersey.

• Personal life in England:

John Fenwick, the second son of Sir William Fenwick, was born at Stanton Manor, Northumberland, England to an ancient family of wealth and influence.

• In 1648, John Fenwick married Elizabeth Covert, who gave birth to three daughters: Elizabeth, Anne and Priscilla.
• In 1665, John and Elizabeth Fenwick joined the Religious Society of Friends, or Quakers. After Elizabeth's death, John Fenwick married Mary Burdet, his second wife and daughter of Sir Walter Burdet. They had no children. [Researcher Notaton: a fourth child, a son 'John' was born ca. 1643]
• Fenwick's Colony:
• Prior to 1674, West Jersey had been partitioned by English colonists into five territories, each called a Tenth. The five Tenths, stretching from Assunpink Creek southward to an area inclusive of the Cohansey River, fronted the east bank of the Delaware River. John Fenwick acquired title to the Fifth Tenth, which occupied much of the present-day counties of Salem and Cumberland.
• In the third quarter of 1675, John Fenwick and the other emigrants departed London aboard the Griffin, Robert Griffith in command.]
• The Griffin reached its destination prior to October 8, 1675; that day John Fenwick recorded a land deed with the local Native Americans (Lenape people).
• Fenwick gave his new home the name of New Salem, meaning peace.

References

• Clement, John (1875). A sketch of the life and character of John Fenwick. Published by Friends Historical Association. Philadelphia: Henry S. Volkmar
• Shourds, Thomas (1876). "John Fenwick." History and genealogy of Fenwick's Colony, New Jersey. Bridgeton, New Jersey, pp. 3-17 ISBN 0-8063-0714-5
• West Jersey Proprietors (1964). Burlington, New Jersey: Revell Press
• Clement (1875). Based on extant documents, the departure date cannot be confirmed.
• Shourds (1876), p. 10. Shourds wrote that the date of arrival at their destination was September 24, 1675.
• Clement, John (1877). Sketches of the First Emigrant Settlers in Newton Township, Old Gloucester County, West New Jersey. Camden: Sinnickson Chew

External links:

• Chronology of Fenwick's Colony Courtesy of New Jersey Historical Society
• Early settlement in Cumberland County
• Colonial history of Salem County

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Major John Fenwick; colonizer and founder of the first permanent English speaking colony on the Delaware River, Salem County, New Jersey, 1675, by Stewart, Frank H., 1873-1948.

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REFERENCE ENTRY

Fenwick, John (1618 - 1683), Colonists in American National Biography Online

ISBN: 9780198606697 Published online February 2000 | e-ISBN: 9780198614128

"...colonist, was born at “Stanton Manor,” the family residence in Northumberland, England, the son of Sir William Fenwick, a gentleman and landowner who trained as a lawyer, and Elizabeth Gargrave. John Fenwick entered Gray’s Inn, London, in 1638, but it is not known whether he practiced law thereafter. He first came to prominence during the English Civil War, in which he fought with the Roundheads. Oliver Cromwell appointed him a major in 1648, with instructions to assist with military training at Carlisle garrison. Fenwick also served in the parliamentary cavalry and was present at the execution of Charles I. In 1651 he held a commission to act as guard to the Rump parliament".

Subjects: biography ; history American National Biography Online

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• Following biographical and historical narrative from: Grave of John Fenwick - Mannington Twp, New Jersey at: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=5&ved...

HyperLink View waymark gallery

• Grave of John Fenwick - Mannington Twp., NJ in Out of Place Graves Posted by: Groundspeak Regular Member NJBiblio N 39° 37.612 W 075° 22.283 18S E 468126 N 4386410

Quick Description:

• Grave of the founder of the first permanent English settlement on the Delaware River, now the point of a fork between 2 major Salem County roads.
• Location: New Jersey, United States
• Date Posted: 7/20/2010 8:23:15 AM
• Waymark Code: WM9A2Z
• Published By: Groundspeak Premium Member GA Cacher

Long Description:

• John Fenwick is considered one of the founders not only of Salem County, but also of New Jersey. He was a former member of the parliamentary army in the English Civil War and a Quaker who came to the New World with the purpose of establishing a Quaker refuge here. He obtained the land and permission for his expedition by holding the land grants for west Jersey in trust for the Quaker Edward Byllynge from the original grantor, Lord Berkeley. His contingent sailed up the Delaware River to what is now the Salem River (via a tributary now named Fenwick Creek) and founded the city of New Salem -- the first permanent English settlement in the Delaware Valley (all previous settlements being those of the Swedes and Finns). Agreements with the local Lenni Lenape Indians were reached under the famous Salem Oak, which is still standing in the Friends Graveyard.
• Eventually Fenwick had several conflicts with English land owners over the administration of the west Jersey, most prominently with Sir Edmund Andros who had Fenwick imprisoned in 1678. After he was released from prison, Fenwick continued his disputed with other land holders and proprietors in the colony. These were not settled until 1682 when he gave up his proprietorship to William Penn (yup, that William Penn) in exchange for 150,000 acres of land he could control as he saw fit.
• Today Fenwick's 150,000 acres of land lies within Mannington Twp.
• He remained active in the colonial legislature, helping to establish a courthouse and prison, along with other buildings in his beloved Salem. He died in 1683 and is buried near this monument, now in the center of an island at a fork in the roads from Woodstown to Salem, NJ.

The text on the monument stone reads:

Founder of New Salem 1675 First permanent English settlement on the Delaware Here at Fenwicke Grove lies buried MAJOR JOHN FENWICKE 1618-1683

• Late Abslolute Lord of Cheife Propriatary by law and survivership of New Cessaria or New Jerssie and now of Fenwicke Collony
• Fenwicke's will, Aug. 7, 1683
• The government to stand upon these two basis or leges, viz. 1. The defence of the royal law of god, his name and true worship, which is in spirit and in truth 2. The good, peace, and welfare of every individual person Concessions 8th, 1, 1674-5
• This memorial dedicated July 4, 1924

Name: John Fenwick

Born: 1/1/1618

Died: 1/1/1683

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• Additional sources:
• Major Fenwick - Historical records and family trees, at: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=8&ved...
• An Index of Ancestors and Roll of Members Of the Society of Colonial Wars....page 171 By General Society of Colonial Wars, at: https://books.google.com/books?id=PygwAAAAYAAJ&pg=PA171&lpg=PA171&d...
• The Journal of the Friend's Historical Society, at: https://books.google.com/books?id=Cyk2AQAAMAAJ&pg=PA37&lpg=PA37&dq=...

The following reference materials taken from:

• The Genealogy of Thomas Lester McKibbin - Fenwick, John - WorldConnect Project at,: https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=14&ve...
• ID: I313
• Name: John Fenwick
• Reference Number: I313
• Sex: M
• Change Date: 18 Jul 2006
• Birth: 1618 in presumably at Stanton, Parish of Longhorsley, Northumberland 1
• Death: 1683 i

This man was a colonist and the founder of Salem, N.J.

Note: 22 May 2000

• Admitted to Gray's Inn, 15 Mar 1638/9, calvary major under Cromwell, joined Society of Friends, supporter of establishment of Quaker colony in America, emigrated on the Griffin, died testate Salem, New Jersey

(will, proved 16 Apr 1684, of "John Fenwick, late of Binfield in the Countie of Berks in the Kingdom of England Esq. the late absolute Lord or Chiefpropriate law & survivorship of the province of Nova Caesaria or New Jersey and now of Fenwick's Colony"... names many grandchildren (Archives of the State of New Jersey, First Series, 23:162)

Note: 22 May 2000

• Said to have three daughters by his first marriage to Elizabeth (Covert) Fenwick (I314). 3

Note: 18 Jul 2006

For a detailed genealogy of John Fenwick, see S743, which is currently unprocessed in this database. 4. 5 6 7 8

Hints at Ancestry.com Hints for John Fenwick

   1 possible matches found on Ancestry.com	Ancestry.com

*Father: William Fenwick , Esq. b: 22 Sep 1581 in Stanton

• Mother: Elizabeth Gargrave
• Marriage 1 Elizabeth Covert
• Married: ca. 1641 Change Date: 18 Jul 2006
• Marriage 2 Mary Marten

Sources: S47, S743 S47 S214 S743

• Title: _Ancestral Roots of Sixty New England Colonists_. Author: Weiss, Rev. Frank Lewis.
• Weiss, Rev. Frank Lewis. _Ancestral Roots of Sixty New England Colonists_. Supplement, 1952.
• Hawaii State Library, Main Branch, Honolulu, Hi. Note:
• Faris, David. _Plantagenet Ancestry of Seventeenth Century Colonists_. Genealogical Publishing Co.. Baltimore, MD. 1996. pp 73-74, 100-01.
• Hawaii State Library, Main Branch, Honolulu, HI. Title: "Salem, New Jersey."
• "Salem, New Jersey." _Encyclopedia Brittanica_. 1994-1998. 1998 Electronic Encyclopedia in the possession of Thomas Lester McKibbin (I9).
• Title: Genealogy of John Fenwick, 1618-1683, founder of Salem, New Jersey: [letter from John Insley Coddington to Sir Anthony Wagner, London, 30 January 1962] Author: Coddington, John Insley
• Coddington, John Insley. Genealogy of John Fenwick, 1618-1683, founder of Salem, New Jersey: [letter from John Insley Coddington to Sir Anthony Wagner, London, 30 January 1962]. Photocopy reproduction of Microfilm reproduction of Original typed letter.
• Thomas McKibbin Genealogy Archive Currently in the possession of the author. Folder: S743 F Media: S743 F No. of Items: 8 pp. stapled Archive Status: complete
• Family History Library Salt Lake City, Utah FHL film US/CAN 564126 Item 18 Note: Status: Not processed. S47, S214

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• Third narrative taken from: Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, at: http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/71092?docPos=4

Fenwick, John (1617/18–1683), settler in America, was the second of four sons of William Fenwick (1581–1647), landowner, of Stanton Hall, Northumberland, and his wife, Elizabeth (bap. 15 Feb 1578), daughter of Sir Cotton Gargrave of Nostell, Yorkshire. John Fenwick was entered at Gray's Inn, London, on 15 March 1639 but was never called to the bar. He married, probably in 1641, Elizabeth (bap. 1624/5, d. 1654), daughter of Sir Walter Covert of Slaugham, Sussex. They had three daughters.

In the 1640s Fenwick served in the parliamentary army. As major he commanded the garrison at Wressel Castle in Northumberland, until being ordered in October 1648 as major in a new regiment of horse under Colonel Thomas Barwis to the relief of Carlisle Castle. In 1649 he was ordered to attend the execution of Charles I and in 1651 a commission from the council of state appointed him captain of a volunteer troop of horse to guard parliament and take its orders from Cromwell and the council. He probably remained loyal to Richard Cromwell and then the army in 1659–60. Having been an Independent in religion, attending the London congregation of John Goodwin in 1649, Fenwick then became a member of the Society of Friends, probably by 1660. He was fined and sent to gaol for attending Quaker meetings in 1666 and 1670. He developed a friendship with Quaker leader William Penn and was to remain a devout Friend for the rest of his life.

In 1674 Fenwick and Edward Byllynge, a London brewer and a leading member of the Society of Friends, purchased Sir John Berkeley's share in the western portion of the colony of New Jersey. Since Byllynge had recently declared bankruptcy, he asked Fenwick to serve as his agent during the sale so that the former's financial difficulties would not be exposed. Byllynge assumed that he and Fenwick would unite in the establishment of a Quaker colony in West Jersey, with Byllynge maintaining the role of chief proprietor. Fenwick, however, demanded a percentage of the land so that he might settle a colony of his own. The struggle for control of West Jersey became so divisive that London Friends, fearing that the differences between Byllynge and Fenwick would damage the reputation of Quakerism should the case be carried to court, intervened for the purpose of moderating the dispute, choosing William Penn as an arbitrator. After several letters from Penn to Fenwick, the disagreements were temporarily worked out and in 1675 a tripartite deed was signed by Fenwick, Byllynge, and three Quaker trustees (including Penn) for Byllynge's creditors. As part of the new deed Fenwick would receive one-tenth of the original Berkeley grant. The trustees, on Byllynge's behalf, would receive the rest. After the deed was signed, both parties went ahead with plans to establish Quaker colonies.

In March 1675 Fenwick convinced thirty-seven people to travel to his new settlement at Salem, located in the south-western corner of the colony, bordered to the north by the Delaware River and to the west by the Delaware Bay. He publicized his colony and in November arrived with 150 settlers on the ship Griffen to assume what he believed to be the role of proprietor and governor of the first English settlement in the Delaware valley. His second wife, Mary Burdett (d. 1699), with whom he had no children, did not make the journey. The early history of Salem was filled with controversy. Fenwick's debts forced him to mortgage his colony in 1676 to two of the original land purchasers, the Quakers John Eldridge and Edmund Warner. Furthermore, his claim to govern the colony remained in question. Fenwick assumed that his and Byllynge's original purchase from Berkeley included the governing privileges, but Edmund Andros, governor of New York, insisted that political control was not provided in the sale of the property. On two separate occasions, after defying Andros's right to govern Salem, Fenwick was arrested and brought to trial in New York. In both cases, a court found that he had no right to preside over Salem lands.

For the remainder of his life Fenwick fought losing battles to regain his mortgaged land and gain political control of Salem. ‘Fenwick's Tenth’, as his colony was often called, was eventually united with Byllynge's Quaker colony of West Jersey, centered in Burlington. At the time of his death in December 1683, aged sixty-five, Fenwick had few possessions and no West Jersey lands. He was buried somewhere in Salem county, New Jersey, but the exact location of his grave is unknown.

John Fea Sources J. E. Pomfret, The province of West New Jersey, 1609–1702: a history of the origins of an American colony (1956) · F. H. Stewart, Major John Fenwick, Salem County Historical Society (1964) · R. G. Johnson, ‘Memoir of John Fenwicke: chief proprietor of the Salem Tenth’, New Jersey Historical Society Proceedings, 4 (1849), 53–89 · ‘Fenwick's proposal for planting his colony of New Caesarea or New Jersey’, Pennsylvania Magazine of History and Biography, 6 (1882), 86–90 · S. Smith, The history of the colony of Nova-Caesaria or New Jersey (Burlington, NJ: James Parker, 1765) · will, 4 May 1684, New Jersey State Archives, Trenton, NJ Archives New Jersey Historical Society, Newark · New Jersey State Archives, Trenton · Salem County Historical Society, Salem Wealth at death £20 9s. 8 d. excl. land: will, 4 May 1684, New Jersey State Archives, Trenton © Oxford University Press 2004–15 All rights reserved: see legal notice Oxford University Press

John Fea, ‘Fenwick, John (1617/18–1683)’, Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 2004 [http://www.oxforddnb.com/view/article/71092, accessed 20 Oct 2015]

John Fenwick (1617/18–1683): doi:10.1093/ref:odnb/71092